1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1. Introduction The quest for gender equity has evolved from advocacy, negotiation and consensus building, awareness rising on the importance of gender equity, to a point where gender considerations are an obligation in development programming and implementation. The second National Gender Policy for the Government of Zimbabwe replaces the first NGP crafted in 2004. The 2004 NGP was the first policy framework to provide a gender perspective to the principle of “Growth with Equity” that had been adopted by Zimbabwe to address the gender and race inequities. Achievements during the tenure of the 2004 NGP policy are notable. The main achievement was the increase in awareness of gender equality and equity as an imperative for social justice and sound economics. This has seen earnest initiatives for gender mainstreaming across all sectors. The other achievement relates to the consolidation of the planning and implementation frameworks and structures to effectively pursue the objectives of the policy. These include among others, the establishment of the Gender Department within the relevant ministry, the establishment of Gender Focal Points in all line ministries and parastatals, the development and implementation of the Gender Budgeting that saw the creation of the Women’s Fund; the initiation of the Gender Responsive Economic Policy Management initiative; and the launch of the BBWEEF. A number of sector specific achievements were also recorded e.g. in Education, Health, HIV and AIDS and Governance. There has been an emergence of new players and strong partnerships have been forged between public and private sectors, international development agencies and a range of other non state actors. The need for a new Gender Policy is apparent for two main reasons. Firstly, important targets that were set in 2004 GNP, the 2008 SADC Protocol and the Millennium Development Goals, are yet to be achieved. Secondly, new development priorities are emerging at global and regional levels whilst the social, political and economic landscape in Zimbabwe has changed. It is acknowledged that the pathway to gender equity and equality ensues through a process whose course should adhere to ever-changing contexts. The guiding policy frameworks and strategies therefore need to be continuously assessed and reviewed for them to remain relevant and effective within changing contexts. The most notable national landscape change is the new Constitution whose provision for gender equality is very explicit. Other priorities are emerging through the 2008 SADC Protocol, the commitments towards addressing Climate Change, Zimbabwe’s Land Reform, Economic Recovery Programme, Indigenisation and Empowerment framework and other sector specific national initiatives. All these spell out new commitments that necessitated a review of the 2004 Policy. The mission for gender equality and equity needs to be aligned to this landscape. This NGP therefore provides a new framework for gender equality and equity. It outlines Zimbabwe’s vision for a gender just society and how the nation should strive towards this ideal. It details the overarching principles, eight priority thematic areas, policy objectives and strategies. It also defines the 1